Jealousy - Kai

Are they going over the top in their duties? Likely. Can you blame them, however? You reappear like an apparition and Kai is, if they’re honest with themselves, terrified.

Losing you now would be…unbearable. It would break them, completely and fully. Now that you’re at their side again, the world feels right in a way it hasn’t since they were fifteen years old.

The cannot lose that, cannot loose you. They refuse. They’d die before they let it happen.

You would disapprove of that sentiment in its entirety. You claim they hold no commitment to you based on a crown that’s no longer yours. The truth is that they hold commitment to you because you are you. Damn the stolen crown on Merandis’s head; as much as Kai would like to bludgeon the man with it, it means nothing.

You….you mean everything.

So they haunt your footsteps closely, keeping a careful eye on the shadows. The miseries of Norwick are famous for their sharp blades, and they have no intention of you catching a stray one.

You’re looking at books now, and they’re hovering half-hidden in an alleyway. Their eyes follow the way your fingers hover over the covers, and the way you lean down ever so slightly to browse.

It reminds them of being a child in the library again. A nostalgic memory, to be certain. The way you would both hide there to abandon duties until Kai’s father would drag the both of you out himself.

Their chest lurches. Their father…that’s a ghost that will stay dead.

Jaw clenching, they snap themselves out of their melancholy. It helps no one. The past cannot be undone and fates cannot be reversed.

The two of you know that better than anyone.

When their eyes find you again, they see a man has approached you. He stands too close for comfort, and whispers something that makes your nose crinkle. His hand slides across to try and hold your wrist; you look at him, incredulous and off put; it’s all the signal Kai needs.

They slink out of the shadows, pulling a knife from their thigh. It’s painfully easy to sneak up on the man, and even easier to slide the knife between his ribs.

He gasps is pain, knees buckling. You take a step back, eyes wide.

“I’d suggest go getting a doctor to pull that out,” Kai pats him on the shoulder, “Unless you’d fancy bleeding out.”

He looks at them, several curses rising on his tongue, and Kai twists the knife ever so slightly. He yowls, but nobody looks in your direction.

The people of Norwick know better.

Releasing him, Kai shoves him in the other direction and watches him flee on trembling legs.

“It’s not lethal,” They say immediately upon turning around to face you.

You aren’t quite angry, though. A near indulgent smile rests on your lips as you watch them, your gaze almost wanting.

It makes their chest ache.

“That wasn’t very knightly.” You say, a hint of teasing in the words.

“I disagree,” They snort, “Protecting you from dogs certainly seems knightly to me.”

You break, then, laughing. They appreciate the way it’s brightens your face.

“Alright then,” You roll your eyes, “Help me carry these, would you?”

The books are ridiculously heavy, but they do so without complaint. Trailing after you, the angry beast in their chest quits gnashing its teeth for a moment, soothed by your presence.